Leo van Loon

Co-founder and owner of Creative Factory in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Leo van Loon (MsC) was born in Wageningen, Holland in 1976. He studied business economics at Erasmus University. Already during his studies he started a company with two partners. After his graduation this grew into a company of 14 team members. The name of the company is PopVox, which stems from the Latin Vox Populis - voice of the people. Leo’s ambition is to make society more democratic, by making it possible for everybody to contribute his or her opinion and talent. This is why he specializes in research, advice and construction of alliances between governments and their (mostly difficult to reach) target groups. His main work area´s are talent development, entrepreneurship and creative industries. Leo is the co-founder and owner of Creative Factory Rotterdam, a creative incubator with over 70 companies (3.500m²) with club and event halls (1.600m²) in an old granary with a wonderful view over the skyline of Rotterdam. The Creative Factory is a private initiative in close cooperation with partners from business, education and government. Together with 11 agencies from 8 countries Leo van Loon is founding partner of European Creative Business Network. The main purpose of the network is to contribute to establishing the EU as an accessible, effective and rewarding single market for creative and cultural entrepreneurs. His agency PopVox is the agent who executes the activities of the European Creative Business Network.